Self-sustaining floor-arch.



C. R. ERKENSr SELF SUSTAINING FLOOR ARCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1915.

1,242,669, Patented 00h. 9,1917.

I/II l/E/V TOR 6i f'vems A TTORIVEYS CHARLES R. ERKENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

snnr su's'rarmn'e FLOOR-ARCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9,1917.

Application filed September 23, 1915. Serial No. 52,175.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. ERKENS,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Richmond Hill, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Self-Sustainin F loor-Arch, of which the following is a fuli clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fireproof building construction and has particular reference to self-sustaining floor arches built mainly of precast blocks.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a means for building floor arches rapidly and easily without requiring special scaffolding or other temporary supporting structures.

Another object of the invention is to so shape the several blocks as to cause them to bind among themselves in all directions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a floor on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is, a transverse sectional detail corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective voussoirs. f

Referring now more particularly to the drawings I show a construction'involving the use of the usual metal I-beam 'rders 10, the spaces between or below Wl'llCh are filled by the fireproof material.

The blocks employed forthis purpose are of three types or forms cooperating with one another making a complete arch. All of these blocks have certain features in common whereby they are fitted each to each in a rigid strong manner. These blocks comprise skew blocks S, voussoirs V, and key blocks K. As viewed in plan, each of these members has a side having two faces 11 forming a reentrant angle 12 and adapted to receive at the angle the meeting corners view of one of the 13 of two adjacent blocks. Each course or row of blocks break joints with the next course or row; hence the divergent sides or faces 11 of each block serve to hold or draw the two adjacent blocks tightly against each other and snugly into the angle 12.

Each skew block S comprises a shoulder 14 fitting beneath the upper flange of the I-beam 10 and has a "notch or groove 15 into which the lower flange of the same I- beam projects. The general form of the skew block in cross section is that of an inverted wedge or having a wide base and narrow top. The base is provided with an upwardly projecting tongue 16 between which and the main portion of the body of the block isformed a seat 17. The tongue and seat are shown as straight and parallel. Each skew block also is provided with a notch 18 at the center of its top into which a U-shaped clip C is adapted to be slipped downwardly over the I-beam to lock-the two skew blocks on opposite sides of the beam in place.

Each voussoir V, in addition to the characteristics above referred to as common to all of the blocks, has the general form in cross section of an oblique quadrilateral and being formed on its outer side with a down".

wardly projecting tongue 20 adapted to engage snugly into the alined seats 17 of the two skew blocks interlocking therewith. Adjacent this tongue 20 is a seat 21 into which the tongues 16 of saidinterlocking skew blocks project. On the other or inner side of the voussoir is an upwardly projecting tongue 16 adjacent which is a parallel seat 17', these featurescorresponding to the features 16 and 17 of the skew blocks.

The drawings show ,two rows or courses of voussoirs. Obviously more or less of these may be employed as conditions may demand. The several sets of blocks are made in standard sizes and conform to standard distances between cente s of the beams, and according to each sp cification the number of several types of blocks will be specified. Suflice it to say that the two 'innermost rows of voussoirs will be connected by a course or row of key blocks K each in the general form of a Wedge with the broader end up. Each outer side of each key block. is provided with a downwardly projecting tongue 20' and an adjacent parallel seat 21' corresponding to the similar features 20 and 21 of the voussoirs,

, constitutes a double tapered wedge 22 inter-.

and the lower portion of each key block tion each block upon being put in place is supplied with a layer of high grade cement or grouting 23 making firm connection with the next adjacent part. Beginning at an I beam the skew blocks are put in place and then the voussoirs are dropped into place, and finally the keys are set, thereby looking all ofthe parts between the ll-beams in rigid strong position. 1

The ends of the voussoirs and keys may be notched as shown at 24, each notch being undercut-at its-upper end and tapering to a point at its lower end. at any desired distance below the upper surface of the block. Two of these notches coming into registry will receive a quantity of the grouting 25, when a coating of the same is put on, as shown at 26 in Fig. 3. As heretofore, a finishing coating 27 of suitable material may then be covered over the layer ofgrouting.

From what has been stated above, it will be appreciated that the blocks may be so designed as to construct an arch of any desired radiusor curvature, and While I show a flat arch designed especially for floors of fireproof buildings, it is obvious that the invention may be employed in the construction of arches'for any other purpose.

I claim 1. The herein described block for selfnaeaeea I extending inwardly toward the center of the block, said face having a horizontally extended tongue formed of a vertical projection with a corresponding recess or seat 7 parallel thereto.

2. The herein described block for a selfsupporting arch, said block comprising a body having opposite lateral faces, each face being inclined to the top face of the block ,and comprising a plurality of flat surfaces forming a reentrant obtuse angle and said each face also having a horizontally extended tongue formed of a vertical projection with a corresponding recess or seat parallel thereto and adapted to interlock with corresponding features of the next adjacent block in the arch.

3. The herein described block. for a selfsupporting arch or the like, said block comprising a body having vertical flat ends and inclined lateral faces, each face comprising two pairs of angularly disposed surfaces forming parallel angles at the upper and lower portions of the block, there being provided a horizontal longitudinal tongue and an adjacent parallel seat arranged between said pairs of faces and serving to interlock with corresponding features of adjacent blocks in the arch.

' CHARLES lit. ERKENS.

Witness:

Geo. L. Banner. 

